Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-03
THANKSGIVING DAY.
THE FIRST ONE APPOINTED IN
NEW ENGLAND.
The Institution of the Custom-The
First Proclamation Issued Call
ing for Such Observance.


ed of the first Thanksgiving Day in New
England 1t was in the autumn of 1923, |
and the little colony at Plymouth had
been struggling along for three years.
In the spring of this year their affairs
seemed most discouraging Their provis-
ions were nearly gone, their principal de-
pendence being fish and game A long
continued drought threatened to destroy
the corn and barley they had planted,
making the prospect of bread for another
year almost hopeless. In July Governor
Bradford appointed day for fasting and
prayer for rain The rain came and in the
fall abundant crops were harvested. and
there was great peace, plenty of the Cos
pei and many sweet delights and variety
of comforts"
So with hearts full of gratitude for the
for the future, the happy festival of Thanks
giving was instituted, and the first Thanks
giving proclamation was issued by Governor
Bradford In order to furnish this feast
with fresh meats, wild game must be de-
pended upon, as there was no cattle brought
into the colony until the next year, when
Edward Winslow, who had been to Eng
land on business for the colony returned,
came to New England. Deer and wild
turkeys could be found in the forest. Gov.
Bradford sent company out hunting, and
they returned with an abundance of game.
1t is pleasant to think of the guests who
attended the first Thanksgiving dinner
At this time Gov. Bradford was about 80
years Of age, and had then flied the office
of Governor two years. His wife had died
soon after the landing of the Pilgrims.
| Elder Brewster, who since the departure
OF this band from their old home had been
their preacher, was there to ask the divine
blessing upon the festival.
Miles Standish, the little soldier, who
had fought the Spaniards in Holland, and
was not afraid of Indians, was among the
guests, but his beautiful young wife, Rose,
was lying on Burial Hill. John Alden
and pretty Priscilla Mullens, whom he
afterwards married, were there, for when
Captain Standish, who, though not afraid
to face foe, had not the courage to ask
Priscilla to be his wife, sent John Alden
to propose the matter to her, her answer
to this message was, "Why don't you
speak for yourself, John?" As they were
married, John probably did "speak for
himself" and Captain Standish discov-
cred, that in love as well as in war, it was
not prudent to trust important affairs to
other people.
| King Massasoit, who had been very
friendly to the colony, was invited to this
feast, and he came bringing with him
ninety of his people. History informs us
that Massasoit was arrayed in all his war
paint, and all his followers were dressed in
skins deliberately ornamented with beads"
For more than 259 years this example of
THANKSGIVING, set by the Pilgrims, has
| been followed
For nearly century Thanksgiving Day
| was confined to the residents of Massachu-
sets, but now it has become national fes-
| tivai, and its savory odors are scented from
| the most remote cattle ranch on the West
ern plains to the borders of Canada May
this day. instituted by our forefathers ever
continue and be in the future, as it has
been IN the past, a day of family reunion;
day when brothers and sisters, aunts and
cousins, gather around the table loaded
with good cheer. To the children Thanks
giving is day of unalloyed happiness.
How well we remember with what eager
ness and pleasant anticipations we chill
dren noted the preparations for this fes-
tival in the old home From the time the
mlnce pies were made, which was usually
done a week before Thanksgiving, until
the dinner was placed on the long table, it
was all delightful. But as we grow older
this festal day brings with its pleasures
many memories, for
There is no fireside howsoe'er defended
But has one vacant chair"
In making our preparation for Thanks
giving let us not forget those unfortunate
ones, who are thankful to get their daily
bread, and to whom Thanksgiving is only
name. Not many years since a noted
and wealthy man who had resided for
long time in a city in New Hampshire
died. His funeral was largely attended
by the good and great" but one was sur
prlsed by the great number of poor per-
sons who came to the church to take a last
look OF him who was lying there. Old
men and women, young men and children,
pressed around the casket some of them
in clothes almost too shabby for such
place. They had lost a friend Among
the many acts of kindness this gentleman
had done, one was to have an express
wagon loaded with turkeys and chickens
on Thanksgiving occasions, distributed
among the families whom he knew could
not afford to purchase such luxuries.
The following is an exact copy of
Thanksgiving proclamation issued by Gov.
Wentworth 120 years ago:
By His Excellency John Wentworth, ESQ.
Captain-G General, Governor and Comman-
der IN Chief, in and over His Majesty's
Province of New Hampshire, and Vice
Admiral of the same